Method



Jun 14 1927. 4

e A J. H. M EvoY, JR

METHOD OF MAKING STRAINER PLUGS Filed Feb. 6, 1926 3 F F j Z F3 x4, 7 v I H02" 05 T- .5 W W; t

Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED ismrrss PA .mn'rnon OifaMAfKING sTRAmER PLUGS.

Applicationfl led February 6, i926. Serial No. se,44e.

My invention relates to strainerplugs for use in forming the filteringopenings in sections of pipe or tube employed for well strainers and thelike. I

Such strainers are now formed by cutting openings, preferablycircular. in a pipe an fitting the. plugs therein, said plugs havin filtering.openings,usually.in the form 0 slots, the widths of. which may be varied to suit thesand or other material in the formation which contains the fluid which enters the well. k

It is an object of the invention to provide a strainer plug which is of maximum strength for the thickness of the same. It

is also desired that the plug be formed by a most economical and rapid process, so that the commercial cost may be decreased.

Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a strainer plug formed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a plug, illustrating the cutting of the strainer slots therein;

Fig. 3 is atransverse section on the plane 3-.) of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similarv section on the plane 4- 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a section of pipe with strainer openings therein, the same being shown on a reduced scale; and Fig. 6 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 4. with the periphery of the plug slightly'modified, the said plug being seated within a section of pipe. Like numerals of reference designate like parts in all the views.

In forming my strainer plug according to the present invention, I employ a fiat cylindrical disk, such as brass or steel, adapted to fit within openings 1 out within the strainer pipe 2. The blank isfirst cut with slots 3 on opposite sides thereof, the outer and inner slots of the plug registering to form continuously slotted openings through the body of the blank. In Fig. 2, I have illustrated how the said slots 3 may be formed. Milling cutters, illustrated at 4, may be employed to cut the slot part Way through the blank. When the slots are cut to meet at a point centrally of the blank, as shown in Fig. 4, there is left at each end of the slots a section illustrated at 5, the walls of which converge inwardly. A series of parallel slots are out in the plug with cutters of varying diameter, the plug appearing approximately as shown in Fig. 1, except that each slotted passage is narrowed by the shape of the portion 5.

The slots3 are then cut through their full length through they plug by stamping out the triangular portionindicated at 6, in dotted lines-in Fig. 3. A flat punch, or similar tool, may be used to drive this metal through the plug. so as tovremove the metal,-

indicated at 63, leaving end walls of .the slots 7 parallel with theouter walls of the blank. It will be noted, therefore, that the slots 3 are formed by three steps, the outer and. the

inner sides of each slot beingcut with mill- 1 the body of the plug adjacent the slots being the .full thickness of the pipe. To best accomplish this purpose, the pipe is formed with an annular shoulder 10 in the openings and the periphery of the plug'is formed with the inner side recessed to fit upon said shoulder,'as disclosed in Fig. 6. The plug is, therefore, prevented from moving inwardly and is firmly seated. The outer end of the plug may be reduced slightly in diameter, as shown at 11, and the metal on the wall of the plug may be upset or riveted inwardly about the reduced end to hold it. against removal from the pipe. In Fig. 5, the pipe is shown with plugs already seated in some of the openings, while in the, othersv theseats are formed to receive the plugs- While I have described the outer portion of the slots as being formed with milling cutters, I contemplate that they may be formed by any similar or equivalent device and when the slots have thus been cut the material at the ends, therefore, may be. removed to form the plug, as shown in Fig. 3, by any desired means, and I do not wish to be limited entirely to the means disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what ner employed with strainer plugs of this nathe outer periphery of the I claim as new and desire to protect by Lets 'ters Patent is 1. A process of forming strainer plugs allel slots from each side of said disk, the

slots on one side being registered with those on the other side, and punching out the material at each end of each of the slots to leave end walls of the character described.

2. A process of forming strainer plugs, comprising forming a circular disk of metal, cutting a series of parallel slots on each side of said disk, positioning the cutters so that the slots on one side will register with those on the other, and then removing the material at each end of the slots to leave end walls to said slots of the thickness desired.

3. A process of forming strainer plugs for well strainer pipes, comprising stamping disks with parallel faces, milling parallel strainer slots in said disk, and stamping out the remaining metal in said slots to leave end walls to said slots of the desired thickness.

4. A process of forming strainer plugs for well strainer pipes, comprising forming circular metal disks, milling arcuate meeting slots'it'rom opposite sides of said disk, and

then removing the metal at the ends of the slots to leave end walls to said slots of the de- 'slots therein with milling cutters, and then stamping out the material of the disk left in the cutting process to leave end walls to the slots in the manner described.

6. A process of forming filter openings in a strainer member, comprising cutting parallel slots in said member with a cutting tool,and then stamping out the material of the slots left by the cutting tool,-thereby extending the slots completely through said member, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature this 26th day of December, A. D. 1925.

JOSEPH HENRY MCEVOY, JR. 

